Combined mine drill and breaker



1941; H. P. CHANDLER I COMBINED MINE DRILL AND BREAKER Fi1 ed Dec. 28, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 3|went or HOMER I? CHATNDLEB m [2% Gnome Oct. 28, 1941.

H. P.-CHANDLE-R COMBINED MINE DRILL AND BREAKER Filed Dec. 28, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ISrwentor HOMER p CHANDLER attorney Oct. 28, 1941. H. P. CHANDLER. 2,261,017

COMBINED MINE DRILL AND BREAKER Filed Dec. 28 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Bmaentor Hanna 1? CHANDLER attorneg in Fig. 1.

Patented Oct. 28, 1 941 COMBINED MINE DRILL AND BREAKER Homer P. Chandler, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to The Ohio Brass Company, Mansfield, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Application December 28, 1940, Serial No. 372,140 11 Claims. (Cl. 26212) This invention relates to mining machinery and particularly to a combined drill and breaker jack for breaking down coal in a mine preparatory to loading.

One object of the invention is to provide breaker mechanism which shall be economical and. convenient to operate and which shall be entirely free of the hazards incident to blasting.

A further object. of the invention is to pro vide means for supporting a breaker jack on a drilling machine in position to be accurately aligned with the opening made by said drilling machine and to be operated by the drill spindle,

Another object of the invention is to provide breaker mechanism which will loosen the coal with the minimum of dust and slack.

A further object is to provide mechanism of the class named which shall be of improved construction and operation. I V,

Other objects will appear from the following description. I a

The invention is exemplified bythe combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification, and it is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Y

Fig. 1 is a top plan view-of a combined drill and breaker showing one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is anelevation ofthe machine shown Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on line 3-3 of Fig. l with parts sectioned on line 30-3! of the same figure.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section on line 4-4 of Fig. l.

Figs. 5 and 5a constitute a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1. I 3 I Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6-of Fig. 5.

In mining operations and particularly in the mining of coal, it is customary to break the coal down preparatory to loading by undercutting a portionof the mine wall and blasting the coal by explosive charges inserted in a series of open! ings drilled in the mine wall. This operation shatters the coal badly, producing a great deal of slack and dust and is, of course, hazardous. Various forms of mechanical means for breaking down the coal have been tried, but these have all involved a great deal of labor and difficulty in bringing the breaking devices into operative position in applying the necessary power to release the coal. The present invention overcomes these difficulties by mounting thebreaker driving the motors.

jack on the same frame with the drill spindle so that it may be easily moved into and out of position to be driven by the same mechanism that operates the drill. The invention also comprises a jack construction which'is suitable for operation by the drill operating mechanism.

The drill spindle and breaker jack may be conveniently mounted on a tractor having tread chains I 0 driven by sprocket wheels ll mounted on a frame l2. Two pairs of sprocket wheels H with their connecting frame l2 are provided one at each side of the machine, and these two frames are connected by a frame plate [3 which extends across the machine and provides a supporting platform for the operating mechanism carried by the tractor. A motor [4 is mounted on each frame l2 and is connected by gears [5 to a shaft l6 having sprocket wheels I! mountedthereon. The sprocket wheels I! are connected by chains [8 and sprocket wheels [9 to the shafts which drive the wheels II at one end of each of the tractordevices. Bearing castings 20 and are mounted on the plate I3 and a transverse shaft is journaled in bearings in these castings, the shaft being providedwith a gear housing 22 containing beveled gears for driving the screw '23. The gear housing 22 is journaled torotate about the axis of the shaft so that'the' screw 23 may take various angular positions relative to the axis of the shaft and still be driven. by the'beveled gear on the shaft. A clutch 24 is mounted on the shaft I 6 for selectively connecting the sprocket wheel I! and the operating shaft for the screw handles 21 and 28 for these controllers are arranged close together so that they may, be easily operated simultaneously or independently. When both motors are to bedriven for propelling the tractor forwardly the two controllers are operated simultaneously. When it is desired to turn the tractor, one of the motors may be driven independently of the other, and when it is desired to operate the screw 23 the clutch mechanism 24 is shifted to disconnect the driving sprocket and to connect the'screw operating shaft to the motor l4. The motor thus connected to the screw is then operated while the other m0- tor remains stationary; A reel 29 is mounted on the rear of the tractor for supporting a cable for The screw '23 is threaded into ahead 30 car- 'ried by two arms 3| fined to a shaft 32 journaled in bearings 33 on the bearing castings 28 and 2|. The shaft 32 has a pair of arms 34 and 35 fixed to the outer ends thereof and the forward ends of these arms have pivotally mounted thereon a track ring 36 for supporting a turntable 31 as best shown in Fig, 3. Arms 38 extend rearwardly from the track ring 36 and the rear ends of these arms are pivotally connected to links 39 which are pivotally supported at 49 on the bearing castings 28 and 2|. When the screw 23 is driven forwardly through the nut 38, the arms 3| will be rotated rearwardly to rotate the shaft 32 and swing the arms 35 upwardly from the full line position shown in Fig. 2 to the broken line position shown in that figure. During this movement, the links 39 will hold the track ring 36 in a horizontal position at the various elevations through which the track ring passes.

Pivotally mounted at 4| on the turntable 31 is a supporting platform 42 which carries a motor 43. Arms 44 extend laterally from the platform 42 and support bearing casting 45, one at each side of the machine. A hollow shaft or sleeve 45 is journaled in each of the bearing castings 45 and supports a screw shaft or spindle 41 mounted to slide longitudinally through the shaft 46 but held from rotation relative to the shaft by a key 48. Each shaft 46 carries a worm wheel 49 mashing with a worm 59 secured to a transverse shaft also, journaled at its opposite ends in the gear housings 45. A beveled gear 52 is secured to the shaft 5| at its middle point and the gear 52 mashes with a cooperating gear 53 mounted on the shaft 54 of the motor 43. A

rearwardly projecting housing tube 55 is provided for the rearwardly extending portion of each screw shaft 41.

The ends of the arms 44 are provided with spaced abutments 56 between which there is interposed a split nut 51 for engaging the threads of the shafts 41. These nuts may be released from engagement with the threads of'the shafts by operating handles 58. When the split nuts 51 engage the shafts 41 and the shafts are rotated by the worm wheels 49, the shafts will be fed longitudinally but when the nuts are disengaged from the threads of the shafts 41, the shafts 41 may be driven by the worm wheels 49 without longitudinal movement.

Rigidly fixed to the forward end of each shaft 41 is a clutch housing 59 having a sliding clutch collar 89 mounted therein and splined to the end of the shaft 41. The clutch collar 59 is moved longitudinally of the shaft 41 by an operating ring GI and may be projected into engagement with teeth 62 on the .end of a stud shaft 63 which has a collar 64 engaging a bearing ring 85 interposed between the end of the collar and one end face of the housing 59. The end of the shaft 41 has a bearing bushing 65 secured therein and bearing against the end of the shaft 63 inside of the teeth 62. When the clutch collar 68 is moved into engagement with the teeth 62, the shaft 63 will be constrained to rotate with the shaft 41 but when the collar 68 is retracted, the shaft 41 may be fed forwardly or to the right in Fig. 3 and will force the shaft 83 in front of it without rotating the shaft 63, the bearing bushing 66 rotating in contact with the rear end of the shaft 63. The shaft 63 has a socket member 61 secured thereto and provided with a tapered socket 68 for receiving the end of a drill for drilling holes in the mine wall. The socket member may ing the, drill in place in the socket such as a set screw threaded into an opening 69 in the socket member. Two openings are drilled simultaneously by drills carried by the two socket members respectively. During the drilling operation, the clutches engage the teeth 62 to rotate the drills and at the same time the split nuts 51 engage the teeth of the screw shafts or spindles 41 to feed the drills forwardly into the mine wall.

After the holes have been drilled to the desired depth the motor 43 is reversed and the drills are withdrawn and the breaker jacks 10 are then brought into operation. These jacks are each provided with an operating screw shaft 1| having its rear end shaped to fit into the socket 31. The jacks 19 are each carried on a bracket arm 12 pivotally mounted at 13 on a bracket 14 as shown more clearly in Fig. 4. The brackets 14 are longitudinally slidable on shafts 15 which are rigidly fixed to the platform 42. Each bracket 14 is provided with an inwardly extending arm 16 which slidably engages a shaft 11 to hold the brackets from rotation on the shaft 15. Each bracket 14 carries a housing 18 in which is journaled a shaft 19 which carries a spur-gear 88 mashing with a rack 8| secured to the shaft 15. A handle crank 82 is secured to the end of the shaft 19 for rotating the gear and moving the bracket 14 along the shaft 15. The arm 12 carries a gear segment 83 which mashes with a worm 84 operated by a handle 85 for swinging the arm about its pivot 13. The outer end of the arm 12 carries suitable clamping mechanism 86 for engaging the jack 10. An adjustment stop 31 limits the outer movement of the arm 12 so that in its extreme position the screw shaft 1| will be in axial alignment with the drill spindle 41 and in the position in which the end of the shaft 1| will fit into the socket 68.

The construction and operation of the jack will best be understood from Figs. 3, 5 and 5a. The jack comprises a pair of contact bars 88 and 89, the adjacent ends of which are welded respectively to the upper and lower sections 98 and 9| of an operating head, the portions of which head are held together by a heavy rubber band 92. The sections 99 and 9| are recessed to receive a bearing housing comprising end plates 93 and 94 connected by a housing ring 95. A bearing block 95 is rigidly fixed to the shaft 1| and is provided with roller bearings 91 interposed between the bearing block and the end plates 93 and 94 respectively. The end sections 98 and 9| may be moved radially relative to the plates 93 and 94 against the tension of the band 92 while maintaining end thrust contact with the plates 93 and 94. A second heavy rubber band 98 cooperates with the band 92 to move the bearing members 88 and 89 inwardly toward the shaft 1|. The contact members 88 and 89 have inclined bearing faces 99 and I99 at opposite ends thereof which bear on longitudinally movable wedges IOI and I82 having reverse threaded connection respectively with the shaft 1|. It will be apparent that rotation of the shaft 1| in one direction will move the wedges IDI and I82 centrally toward each other forcing the contact members 88 and 89 outwardly and rotation of the shaft in the opposite direction will separate the wedges |9| and I 02 permitting the rubber bands 92 and 98 to move the contact members inwardly. The central portion of each contact member is provided with a groove I93 to receive the shaft 1| when the contact members are in their most retracted position.

During a drilling operation, the breaker jacks are held in an inoperative position the bracket engage the mine wall. After the drilling mechanism has been operated to form the proper openings in the mine wall, the drills are removed from the socket members 61 and the hand cranks removed, and the coal isleft in the best possible condition for transportation and sale. v

Iclaim: l

s 1. A breaker comprising a portable frame, a drill spindle carried by said frame, an expansible breaker jack, means for connecting said jack tofsaid drill spindle when no drill is connected thereto'to enable said spindle to expand said jack and means carried by'said frame for supporting 82 and 85 are operated to bring the breaker jacks automatically aligned with the axes of the holes and held in position by mechanically operated means, there will usually be only slight resistance of the movement of the jacks into their respective openings. After the jacks'are in position, the split nuts 51 are released and the clutches 60 are moved into engagement with the teeth 62 so that further rotation of the spindle 41 will drive the screw shaft 1| without additional forward movement. Rotation of the screw shaft H will now cause the wedges NH and IE2 to be 7 moved toward each other and the bearing members 88 and 89 will be moved outwardly with great force. This expansion of the breaker jacks will break down the coal by a steadily increasing pressure so that it will not be pulverized as occurs by the sudden shock of an explosion. The amount to which the coal is broken up by the expansion of the jacks may be regulated by placing spaced supporting blocks in the kerf beneath the coal at a position between the vertical planes of the jack and, also, outside of these vertical planes where this is found desirable for breaking up the coal more than would occur by operation of the jacks alone.

The position of the drills and also of the jacks may be adjusted before operations are begun by rotating the turntable 31 upon its track 36. A clamp I04 is provided for locking the turntable in its various adjusted positions. The angle of the drills and jacks relative to the horizontal may be adjusted by tilting the platform 42 upon its pivotal axis 4|. For this purpose a screw I05 is threaded in the turntable 31 and is provided with a rotating head I06 engaging a socket in the base of the platform 42. A reversible ratchet wrench I 01 is provided for rotating the screw I05. A controller I06 is provided for the motor 43.

With the mechanism shown and described, the machine may be readily driven by its own power into position adjacent a mine Wall and the holes quickly drilled to receive the breaker jacks. The breaker jacks being mounted on the machine itself and operated by mechanical means are readily moved into accurate alignment with the axes of the holes already bored and mechanically inserted in the openings in the mine wall and expanded by power means to break down the coal. The operation being mechanical, the hand operation is reduced to a minimum and the danger incident to the use of explosives is entirely said jack and for moving said jack into and out of operative'registration with-said drill spindle.

2. A breaker comprising a frame, a drill spindle carried by said frame, a breaker jack carried by said frame and means for supporting said jack on said frame in an inoperative position out of registration with said spindle, said supporting means being operable to move said jack into an operative position in registration with said spindle. v

3. A mine breaker comprising a frame, a screw spindle mounted on said frame, a releasable nut for feeding said spindle when said spindle is rotated, a breaker jack having an operating screw shaft, means for providing a relatively rotatable bearing between said spindle and shaft to facilitate movement of said jack by said spindle into operating position and means for connecting said spindleand shaft 'for rotation in unison to facilitate operation of said jack by said spindle.

4. In mining apparatus a supporting head, a motor on said head, a drill spindle mounted on said head and operatively connected with said motor to be driven thereby, means for adjusting the positionof saidhead to locatesaid spindle for drilling an opening in a mine wall, a breaker jack and a support for said jack carried by said head, said support being operable to move said jack to an inoperative position out of registration with said drill spindle during a drilling operation and into operative position in registration with said spindle for insertion of said jack into a drilled hole and for expansion of said jack in said hole.

5. In mining apparatus a portable frame, a supporting head mounted on said frame, means for raising and lowering said head on said frame to adjust the height of said head, a motor mounted on said head, a pair of threaded drill spindles mounted on said head and operatively connected with said motor for rotation by said motor, releasable nuts for engaging said drill spindles to cause longitudinal movement thereof when said spindles are rotated, means on each spindle for operatively connecting a drill thereto, a pair of breaker jacks mounted on said head and adapted for operative connection with said drill spindles respectively when said spindles have no drills connected thereto, and adjustable brackets on said head for carrying said jacks, said brackets being operable for moving said jacks to inoperative positions away from said drill spindles and into operative positions in registration with said spindles.

6. In mining apparatus a drive spindle, selective means for rotating said spindle in longitudinally fixed position or for feeding said spindle longitudinally during rotation thereof, a breaker jack having a screw shaft connected with said spindle, and a combined clutch and thrust bearing interposed between said spindle and shaft and having one position of adjustment for transmitting longitudinal movement from said spindle to said shaft while said spindle rotates and said shaft is not rotated and having another position of adjustment for constraining said shaft to rotate with said spindle while said spindle and shaft are longitudinally stationary.

7. In mining apparatus a screw spindle, means for rotating said spindle, a releasable nut for feeding said spindle longitudinally when rotated, a breaker jack having an operating screw shaft, and means for connecting said shaft and spindle in longitudinal alignment, said connecting means comprising relatively rotatable thrust bearing faces to facilitate endwise movement of said shaft by said spindle to move said jack into operative position while said spindle rotates without transmitting rotation of said shaft, and means for connecting said spindle and shaft to constrain said shaft to rotate in unison with said spindle to operate said jack after it is in operative position.

8. In combination a breaker jack having relatively expansible contact members, a screw for expanding said jack, a spindle for driving said screw and a clutch for connecting said spindle to said screw, said clutch comprising end thrust bearing connection between said spindle and screw and a releasable clutch member for constraining said spindle and screw to rotate together.

9. In combination a breaker jack having relatively expansible contact members, a pair of wedges for expanding said members, an operating screw having oppositely threaded connection with said wedges, thrust bearing members connected with said contact members and a stop fixed to said screw and having rotatable bearing on said bearing members for restraining said screw from longitudinal movement relative to said contact members.

10. In mining apparatus a supporting head, a motor mounted on said head, a screw spindle on said head, a driving connection between said motor and. spindle comprising a driving sleeve splined on said spindle to rotate said spindle while longitudinally stationary or while longitudinally moving, a split nut for releasably engaging said spindle to feed said spindle longitudinally when said nut is in engagement therewith and said spindle is rotated, means for connecting a drill to said spindle, a breaker jack having an operating screw adapted for connection with said spindle by said drill connecting means, a bracket on said head for supporting said jack and operable for moving said operating screw into and out of registration with said drill connecting means, said drill connecting means including a releasable clutch for transmitting rotation from said spindle to said screw and end thrust bearing faces for transmitting longitudinal movement from said spindle to said screw when said clutch is released and said spindle rotates relative to said screw.

11. In mining apparatus a portable frame, a circular track member mounted on said frame, parallel motion link mechanism connecting said track member to said frame, a motor for moving said link mechanism for raising said track member on said frame, a turntable on said track member rotatable about an upright axis, a supporting platform or head mounted on said turntable and adjustable thereon about an axis transverse to the axis of said turntable, a motor mounted on said head, a pair of drill spindles mounted on said head, driving connection between said motor and drill spindles, a pair of bracket members mounted on said head, and a pair of breaker jacks engageable by said brackets and movable thereby transversely and longitudinally of said drill spindles into and out of operative registration with said drill spindles.

HOMER P. CHANDLER. 

